As Heard on The Stephanie Miller Show

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

This afternoon, Media Matters of America posted this story concerning a request by Hewlett-Packard to block thier ads from Air America Radio programming.

An internal ABC Radio Networks memo obtained by Media Matters for America,originally from a listener to The Peter B. Collins Show, indicates that nearly100 ABC advertisers insist that their commercials be blacked out on Air AmericaRadio affiliates. According to the memo, the adverstisers insist that "NONE oftheir commercials air during AIR AMERICA programming." Among the advertiserslisted are Bank of America, Exxon Mobil, Federal Express, General Electric,McDonald's, Microsoft, Wal-Mart, and the U.S. Navy.

Some of the advertisers that have requested to not appear on AAR programming include:

Nicole Laprena is shown in the note as the contact for ABC. There has been no comment from ABC, AAR, or any of the companies listed.

One would assume that, since ABC/Cumulus has no ownership in AAR, this was probably an adviso to make sure that ABC Owned and Operated stations do not mistakenly put any spots for thier products within any AAR programming run on either thier stations or any ABC Network affiliates.

Also, to be fair, there was no indication that Media Matters checked out the vailidity of the document, though the font style is consistant with that which ABC Radio has used for years (I should knowm because I worked for two ABC affiliates in mt radio career-pb).

Friday, October 20, 2006

I am beginning to wonder if there is anyone left in America with any backbone.

The American Xian Taliban, under thier censorship arm....The American Family ASSociation...has chalked up another victim: The National Broadcasting Company.

Next month, NBC plans to air a video version of Madonna's "Reinvention Tour." The crowning piece of the concert is a scene where Madonna, dress demurely with thons on head, stands on a stylized cross and sings "Live to Tell."

As always, Ms Ciccione knows how to put on a show, and make a point....a point not shared by Rev. Donald "NoNeck" Wildmon and his Mississippi Mudhens of the AFA. They put on thier usual full court press, and after weeks of standing firm, the Peacock acaputulated.

Note the statement that fouled my mail this morning:

AFA supporters have won a great victory!

The efforts of AFA Onlinesupporters has forced NBC to cancel a scene in the upcomingMadonna special in which she mocks the crucifixion of Christ! More than 750,000AFA supporters emailed NBC asking for the scene to be deleted from the specialwhich is scheduled to air in November.

NBC saw a potential loss of$25,000,000 and decided to edit out the scene. We were effective because westuck together and combined our voices. Our supporters not only emailed NBC, butthey also called their local NBC stations.

Those stations contacted NBCand the network listened. The scene is gone!

Another one bites the dust.

And do not think these are just shocked faithful who managed to change NBC's thinking. Note the language: not persuaded, or got them to rethink. the word they used...the word THEY used is FORCED. The AFA, IMHO, is nothing more than and intellectual Al Quida, reaking terror on companies that do not capitulate to thier warped way of thinking.

And before any judgment is passed, here is the scene in question. It was taped by a fan at the concert, so pardon the quality, but you get the idea.

Did this offend you? That's unfortunate, but it's your right. And it is your right to not watch it or turn away. But viewers will not have that right, thanks to the AFA. And that is exactly the point. These people do not believe you have any rights. That you must think they way they think whether you like it or not. They do not even look at the point of the scene: that if we are TRUE Christians we have to do something to help His Creation who cannot help themselves. But where are the true Xians of the AFA. They're worried that some pop singer is mocking Christ.

Look at the full scene. It is not Madonna who is mocking Christ. It is Donald Wildmon.

For the last six months I have been posting about NoNeck and the AFA. And there are time that I wonder if anyone listens. This is the second time a year that NBC has bowed to this idiot. Boycotting doen't work because they'll just attack you. This is how they work. They do not care about you. They do not even care about Christ. They care only about thier narrow, perverted view of Chritianity and thier want to force every living being to think like they do. Not just every living American. Every living being.

Whether they like it or not.

And these vermin has infested themselves into some of the highest places of business, goverment, education. These are the clowns that are running the White House for God's sake.

But there is one company is showing backbone. Ford Motor Company, crippled by slow sales, wondering if they will even survive, is holding firm against these clowns.

In a mailing just a few days ago, NoNeck bemoaned the fact that Ford refuses to sit up and beg"

Ford Motor Company continues to financially support the pro-homosexualagenda.

The latest issue of The Advocate, a homosexual publication, heavilypromoted Shortbus, a new film containing graphic, explicit pornographichomosexual sex. Ford, as it has done for years, supported The Advocate with afull-page ad.

Ford told AFA they would pull their advertising support for homosexualmedia, then reneged on the agreement after a handful of homosexual leadersconfronted Ford.

Ford also refused the request of 44 pro-family groups to remainneutral in the battle over homosexual marriage. Ford has decided to support thehomosexual agenda rather than remain neutral. Ford's actions have made itperfectly clear that the company has no intentions of ending its support for thehomosexual agenda, regardless of the economic loss to the company.

From redefining family to include homosexual marriage, to giving hundredsof thousands of dollars to support homosexual groups, to forcing employees toattend "diversity" training on how to promote the acceptance of homosexuality,to sponsoring Gay Pride Day parades, to sponsoring a "commitment (marriage)ceremony," to giving thousands of dollars to support homosexual magazines, Fordleads the way.

The goal of every homosexual organization supported by Ford is to legalizehomosexual marriage. For detailed information on Ford’s total commitment to thehomosexual agenda, go to BoycottFord.com. Ford brands include Ford, Mercury, Lincoln,Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar, and Land Rover.

May I repeat: Ford brands include Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar, and Land Rover. That means, go out and buy one! Or two!

It is time, long time, that this decaying fecal clump is dealt with. And there is, at least, one way.

AFA operates, supposedly, under the 503c tax-exemption code. However, the BBB's charitable watchdog agency says that the AFA fails to meet 4 very impottant standards out if 20 set for charity accountability:

Board members are compensated

They REFUSE to make public audited financial statements

They REFUSE to make public an annual statement

They REFUSE to link to thier most recent IRS 990 form.

On top of that, according to www.give.org, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s governance and oversight, effectiveness measures, finances, solicitation materials, donor privacy, and fundraising disclosures and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 11 Standards for Charity Accountability: 1, 3, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, and 20.

What this means is that the AFA may......and I stress this....may.....have some challenges in this area. Challenges that maybe the Senate and the Congress should look into.

If Wildmon and his cronies are willing to force companies to do thier bidding, we as citizens must force Wildmon and the AFA to be accountable.

You might want to write them and strongly request that they come clean with thier finances...especially if you disagree with the points of this blog and want to contribute. The leas you would want would be full disclosure, right?

Also, you may want to contact NBC and let them know your displeasure over this and maybe they would reconsider....remember there are more of us than there are of them. Go to http://www.nbc.com/Footer/Contact_Us/, scroll downand select "movies and specials."

Well, I'll just mentions that all of these companies have been able to continue operations and many have eventually gotten out of BK.

Second, what happens to a company that goes BK11. Here is an explanation from SFGate.com:

The fate of a corporation in bankruptcy — whether it goes out of businessor is reorganizing in order to recover from crippling debt — is determined byfederal bankruptcy law. The bankrupt corporation (i.e., "the debtor") can useChapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code to liquidate or Chapter 11 to reorganize thebusiness in hopes of turning things around and becoming profitable again. In Chapter 11, management continues to run the daily business operations,but the bankruptcy court must approve all significant business decisions.Publicly held companies usually choose to file under Chapter 11 rather thanChapter 7 because it allows them to continue to run their business as well asmaintain some control over the bankruptcy. The U.S. Trustee appoints one or morecommittees to represent the creditors and stockholders in working with thecorporation. A reorganization plan is developed to get the company out ofdebt.

The plan must be confirmed by the court and agreed to by the creditors,bondholders, and stockholders. The court can confirm the plan over the rejectionof the creditors or stockholders if it finds that the plan treats them fairly.The plan relieves the corporation from paying a portion of its debt so that thecompany can make a recovery. A committee is formed to represent the unsecuredcreditors, including bondholders. An additional committee may be created torepresent stockholders. The trustee may also create a committee to representother creditors, such as secured creditors and employees.

After the committees develop a plan with the corporation, the bankruptcycourt must find that it complies with the Bankruptcy Code before the plan can beimplemented. Known as plan confirmation, this process is usually completed in afew months.

Now what does this all mean, dear lib radio fan. It means that, for the time being, AAR is not going anywhere. In fact, its future may not be brighter. Here's why.

First, the ratings are good. In most major markets, AAR-affiliated stations are either leading or staing competive. AAR has doubled the numbers in L.A. as opposed to the previous sports format. In NY, the numbers are competitive and solid. And they are killer in Portland. That equals money.

And that brings me to second: If AAR is sold, and I would assume that the ownership is going for a sale, there would be at least two interested parties. Jones Radio Networks, which syndicates Stephanie Miller and Ed Jones, two staples at many midwest and western AAR stations would be one. The other.....sit down for this gang....Clear Channel. Yes, the Evil Empire. Well, it seems that we libs have a lot to thank the Mays boys for...you see CC OWNS many AAR affiliates, including the aforementioned ones in Portland and LA. They make a lot of money for CC, and an AAR demise would not be something they would look forward to. Also, Racheal Maddow's show uses a lot of feeds from ABC Radio. Would the Cumulus/Disney partnership be interested?

My prediction: IMHO, Jones, CC, or a partnership will buy AAR, hire programmers to fix things. Al Franken stays until he starts his Congress/Senate run, Randi Rhodes and Rachael Maddow would be kept. The sound would be cleaned up a lot, and AAR would be relaunched with a massive campaign would directly involve its stations. And that won't happen until at least 2007, anyway.

Also, you might note that if Cumulus/ABC to a run at AAR, there is Keith Olbermann, who I think would be a cinch to replace Franken. I say that because ABC Radio has K.O. radio contract.

Oh and another very outside possibility is NBC. Now realizing that exiting radio was a huge mistake, AAR could be thier re-entry point. They have K.O. on contract for TV, and they can simply renegotiate ABC Radio deal, while they take back ownership of their old radio network from CBS. (OK, that one is on the wishful thinking path.)

Meanwhile, my NeoCon friends, the bottom line is that AAR is still on the air, whether you like it or not. And with the coming tsunami that will overtake most non-Teutonic-accented Republicans, the landscape may very well change in the nest few years.